Friday, November 6, 2015

SVE visits Chemistry!

This week students
at PHS came together to better educate each other about the dangers of mixing
household chemicals. AP Chemistry and Chem Club members led a discussion
and several lab experiments, showing Mrs. Brown's SVE classes various reactions
between acids, bases, and metals. SVE stands for Specialized Vocational Education. Students
in this program learn about various jobs as well as skills they will need to
live independently Students learn job seeking skills such as filling out
an application, taking pre-employment tests, interviewing, completing forms for
employment, writing a resume, employer expectations, taxes, banking, budgeting,
credit, how to find a home and the costs associated with living independently.
They are also learning those important soft skills needed to be
successful in future employment. The SVE program helps students figure out
jobs they may not want to do as well through practical experience. Mrs.
Brown thought it would be helpful for the SVE students to learn about some of
the dangerous chemicals they might run into at both home and in the work-place.

In the cooperative lab experience
with Mrs. Block's Chemistry class, the SVE students learned the following:

1. Bleach and
ammonia make chloroamines which are gases that are deadly and can harm
breathing.

2. Since
ammonia is found in urine, always flush toilets after cleaning them with bleach
or it will react with the bleach and form a poisonous gas.

3. Bleach and
acids can cause a release of chlorine gas which was once used as a weapon in
WWI.

4. Always
flush before and after using bleach to avoid these interactions.

The SVE students worked
in partnership with the Chemistry Club observing reactions between acids and
metals as well as bases and metals to show how these mixtures can create a
flammable hydrogen gas. Students trapped
and combusted the gas which was very exciting!

About Me

I received my undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois in 1992, majoring in Biological Science. I went on to receive my Teaching Certificate from Eastern Illinois University where I also earned my Master's Degree in Natural Sciences in 2011. I am a member of the Illinois Association of Chemistry Teachers and a Robert Noyce Fellow. I earned my National Board in Chemistry in 2012.